Care of acute myocardial infarction by noninvasive and invasive cardiologists: procedure use, cost and outcome.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to determine how noninvasive and invasive cardiologists may differ in the hospital care of patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND

Scant information exists regarding the effect of noninvasive and invasive cardiology subspecialization on invasive cardiac procedural use, cost and outcome in the care of patients with acute myocardial infarction.

METHODS

This study analyzed a prospective cohort of 292 patients admitted to an urban tertiary care hospital from the emergency room under the care of noninvasive or invasive cardiologists. Clinical characteristics; hospital course, including management, utilization of diagnostic coronary angiography and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty; direct hospital costs; length of hospital stay; and post-hospital discharge follow-up data were collected by a prospective data base instrument.

RESULTS

Despite similar clinical characteristics, extent and severity of coronary artery disease and utilization of diagnostic coronary angiography in the two groups of patients, those under the care of an invasive cardiologist were significantly more likely to undergo coronary angioplasty than those under the care of a noninvasive cardiologist. The direct hospital costs and length of stay of the noninvasive and invasive group patients who underwent coronary angioplasty were similar, although overall the direct hospital costs and length of stay were higher for the invasive than for the noninvasive group patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Noninvasive and invasive cardiologists differ in their rate of utilization of coronary angioplasty in similar patients with acute myocardial infarction.